8:12 Peace (Hebrew shalom) is an important theme underlying Zechariah’s message (8:10, 12, 16, 19). God’s presence in the rebuilt Temple would bring peace to Judah (see Hag 2:6-9). Zechariah uses the agricultural cycle to represent God’s blessing (see Hag 2:18-19), which would reverse the drought conditions that Haggai described (Hag 1:10). • The small community that returned to Judah from exile was called the remnant. Theologically, the remnant is a bridge between God’s punishment and his promised restoration (see Hag 1:12, 14).

8:1-23 This section of Zechariah’s sermons is connected to the previous one by the topics of fasting (questions posed in 7:2-7 are answered in 8:18-19) and the ethical demands of covenant relationship with the Lord (7:8-10; 8:16-17). The tone and message shift from admonition and judgment to exhortation and restoration. Fasting would change to feasting (8:19).